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Even with seasonal weather patterns threatening to dampen the RNC, the city of Tampa Bay and its Mayor Bob Buckhorn have delivered on their promises.

In a briefing earlier today, Mayor Buckhorn expressed all the positive remarks his team and his city has received from delegates across the country saying “I can’t tell you how many delegates and staffers have stopped me and told me this is the most welcoming, warmest, friendliest city they’ve ever been too.” Hyperbole aside, getting the RNC to this point alone was an accomplishment considering the cancellation of Monday’s events due to now Hurricane Isaac.

In the Mayor’s welcoming speech yesterday, he was thankful and gracious that the GOP could put their faith and trust into his city, addressing them as his ‘Fellow Americans’ as the Mayor is a Democrat. Party affiliation and threatening storms aside, Tampa Bay is ready to finish the rest of the week strong and make Tampa Bay a true political player.

How important is the host city to voters? Is it safer to set up camp in a true base city? How big is the economic impact of hosting a convention of this size?